But will interest some kids. I love Morgan Freeman, but don't neccissarily love this movie. Yes it's about penguins...but, I don't know. It never hooked me in, I guess. I don't want to sound cold-hearted, but it never touched me, I guess.
March of the Penguins
(2005, Rated G, Documentary, Starring Morgan Freeman)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
THE penguin movie. A stunning, loving documentary.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of March of the Penguins was written by Cynthia Fuchs
Parents need to know that the documentary includes stunning but also occasionally disturbing imagery of penguins walking, mating, and dying. Morgan Freeman narrates as the penguins make their annual march from the Antarctic shore in Antarctica. Some penguins die along the way, others freeze during the long winter as they huddle to protect pregnant females and then eggs and babies, and still others are killed by predators.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the film's "humanizing" of the penguins, as it describes their sense of loss, fears, and aspirations. How does the movie make penguin pairs seem like romantic couples? How does the movie construct the penguins' sense of community or future? How might the penguins serve as documentary subjects even without such effort to anthropomorphize their feelings?
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More on March of the Penguins
What’s the Story?
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS is an account of the grueling annual trek made by Emperor penguins. While temperatures reach some 80 degrees below zero, these flightless birds trundle across the tundra, walking and sometimes sliding on their bellies over some 70 miles, from the shore to an inland plain. Here they mate, gestate, and lay eggs, after which the males take over to protect the eggs while the females head back to the sea to eat fish and do their best to avoid hungry sea lions. The females then head back to the plain where reunited couples nurture adorable fuzzy little hatchlings until they are able to walk back to shore.
Is It Any Good?
The French language version of Luc Jacquet's March of the Penguins reportedly featured voices for individual penguins, articulating joy and sadness. The U.S. release has Morgan Freeman narrating, with a script that occasionally overreaches: "It's a story of survival, a story of life over death. It's a story about love." You see the penguins endure any number of hardships, look charming or awkward as they waddle, and even remarkably graceful when they crane their necks over one another or exchange gentle, seemingly loving beak-taps.
Young children might be alarmed at several scenes that underline the severity of conditions facing the penguins. They endure freezing temperatures, wind, and blizzards by gathering into a huge group. Some starve, some lose their eggs from under the protective folds of a mother or father's body and watch as the eggs crack in the instant cold, and still others (especially babies) are assaulted by predators.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Independent, Director: Luc Jacquet
Run time: 80 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/24/2005, DVD release: 11/29/2005
MPAA Rating: G for All ages
Run time: 80 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/24/2005, DVD release: 11/29/2005
MPAA Rating: G for All ages
Our Members Say
See all 144 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
This will bore your young kids
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Adorable, Educational, and Fun!!!!
I was surprised to find the reviews for this movie were all positive! This movie was an amazing movie, and educational too! Now, I have noticed with documentaries (i realize they are just telling us the truth) like to show us something ridiculously CUTE, and then show us it running away from a predator and getting eaten! This was slightly disturbing to me, but then i'm pretty sensitive!!!! Other than that, this movie is fun, cute and educational! It teaches us to persevere, and that animals really do have personalities!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I like it
I love this movie!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
adorable and sad.....
This movie was AWESOME!!! It was sad when the sea lion ate a female penguin but exciting when new life came out of the egg.:)
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
OMG PENGUINS!!!!!!!!! AND MORGAN FREEMAN!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
a MUST see but be aware it's "realistic"
Amazingly shot and superbly narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great window into what happens in the real wild to what normally would be seen as otherwise adorable creatures that walk funny. It shows what life as a penguin is like without getting too graphic. There are, however, some emotional moments that you may want to make sure you touch base with your kids.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Sensitive children of 8 and up
After hearing NPR's Terry Gross interview with the creators of the movie Earth opening on Earthday 2009, I thought back about my two boys reaction to the beautiful and inspiring "March of the Penguin". All three of us enjoyed it in 2005, but the attack and death scenes were quite upsetting to my then 6 year old who still loves penguins. As gorgeous as "March of the Penguin" and its gripping story, he has not asked to see it again. This coming from a precocious and sensitive child who has watched "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" at least 12 times, including all of the special features in the DVDs!
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Good, short, family movie
Educational and entertaining for the whole family
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
boooorrrrriiiiiinnnngggg
the movie is so boring
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
boring
boring the movie is very boring
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
HORRIBLE
Worst movie ever! WALKED OUT
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Hypnotic
I couldn't peel my eyes off this movie. If you have kids who really enjoy movies about animals, this may be right up their alley. The narration by Morgan Freeman is warm and inviting, which is a stark contrast to the harsh realities that these penguins deal with. The only negative thing I can say about this movie is that it may not hold some children's attention.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Awesome
March of the Penguins is a great movie, not boring like kids might think.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Finally a movie for even our smallest child
This was entertaining for the entire family, educational and beautiful to watch. Enough humor in the script to keep the audience listening. Even our 2-year-old didn't worry about the only "violence" - a scene involving seals v. penquins...very adeptly handled.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
An absolute delight
I can't believe my 6 year old sat through a documentary! True, there were squirmy moments as the movie does progress slowly in parts (that is, there are scenes, like the snowstorm, where there's just not a lot of movement onscreen). But he remained captivated whenever the penguins were present, and was even able to recall some of the facts conveyed by the narrator (yes, he was listening!) For us adults, the imagery is simply breathtaking, and the story engaging. A wonderfully moving film for the whole family.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
beautiful family movie
This truely an amazing movie. I took my 8 year old son, my 12 year old daughter and my 68 year old aunt and the entire group loved the movie. Name another movie where that would be true! The movie was tender, funny, sad and educational all at the same time. We all walked away in awe of the penquin and you will too.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Awesome!
Me, my brother, and my grandpa all injoyed this great movie!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
it was vary sad.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Very well made
I took my 3 year old, and she got a little fidgety but was mostly fascinated. There were a couple of scenes that were somewhat disturbing, though, so be prepared for some discussion about the natural food chain. None of these scenes were graphic or gory, but young kids may be a little scared because it's not pretend like so many other movies.
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